Automatic scale.



R. J. ZAN-ONE.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

- APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1913.

Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: A I? J ZA/VO/V E INVENTOR. 2 BY k M TTORNEY R. 1. ZANONE.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1913.

Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WQTNESSES: R J ZA/VO/VE INVENTOR. M17 BY I l mm ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co.,\v4\snmo'rm\'. h. c.

R. J. ZANONE.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

APPUCATION FILED Aue.4, 191s.

Patented July '27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 \H IA w INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.-

R. J. Z/l/VO/VE B Y II/SAW w MTTORNE Y.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CQ-,WASH

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD J. ZANONE, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JACOB ZINSMEISTER, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC SCALEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

1 Application filed August 4, 1913. Serial No. 782,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RIoIIAno J. ZANONE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Albany, county of Floyd, and State oflndiana, have invented a new and useful Automatic Scale, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a practical device for automatic weighing continuously of coffee, grain, and similar commodities.

It consists of novel features and parts, and combinations of the same which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of the feed mechanism with parts removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of my device in part-elevation. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the feed mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view in part section of the lower portion of the feed mechanism. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the follow member in the feed mechanism. Figs. 7 and 8 are end and front elevations respectively of the gate. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective new of the general control mechanism. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the latch rod controlling the location of the hopper.

Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a hollow column, or feed pipe, through which commodities may be led, by gravity, from containers on a higher level to others on a lower level. To this column an embodiment of my invention, comprising weighing mechanism and feed mechanism therefor, is secured. The feed pipe is provided with a lateral orifice which opens into the housing 3 of the feed mechanism. A slide 2, is provided which may be extended across the interior of the column at a point immediately below the orifice 4. When the slide 2 is closed, the material to be weighed is directed into the housing of the feed mechanism 3 through the lateral opening 4 in the stand 1. It passes along the oblique slideway 5 against the retarding plate 6. This retarding plate 6 has a concave curved extension below the lower end of the slideway 5 and is adjustable by the set screw 7. .This retarding device controls the flow of coffee or other material into the hopper and affords one of two checks against the flow of material under pressure of the weight of material stored above the device. The first check is created by the oblique flow through the opening 4 and along the slideway 5to one side of the main column of supply material, and the second check is created by the oblique flow in a zigzag direction down the lower end of the plate 6. The force of the flow is still further broken by directing the flow from off the lower end of the plate 6 against the oblique surface S ofthe housing 3.

Materials are fed into the hopper through the opening 9 in the bottom of the housing 3. When the hopper is not in position this opening is closed by the swinging gate 10, provided with the handle 11 and held normally closed by gravity.

To insure steady closing of the gate I provide a swinging follow member 12-, pivoted on the side of the housing 3, and bearing against the rear edge of the gate to aid in closing it. The follow member has an oblique bearing face 13 which begins to bear against the gate just before it closes. This follow member not only insures steadiness in the closingof the gate but effectually prevents any rebound thereof.

To prevent any interference with instant closing because of grains of coffee and other material lodging between the gate and the lower end of the housing, I provide the small curved plate 14, curved toward the gate 10, and adapted to sweep the upper surface of the gate proper perfectly clean so that it will fit tightly against the lower edge of the housing 3.

The weighing mechanism consists of an ordinary weighing bar 15 provided with the usual weights, and rocking in the fulcrum 16, which is attached. to the main stand, and controlled in the downward movement of the weight end by the stop 17, which meets the fixed extension 18 from thestand 1. On the other end of the bar 15 is hung the stirrup 19 on the pivot 20. The stirrup 19 is held vertical by the bar 21 in fixed pivotal connection with the stand 1 and with the lower end of the stirrup 19, so that the stirrup 19 moves up and down positioned by a parallelogram connection with the stand 1.

The hopper 22 is pivotally connected to the stirrup 19, the point of pivotal connection being below the pivot 20. With respect to the hopper the pivotal connection is near a side of the hopper and very much to one side of the center of gravity when the hopper is filled. The bottom of the hopper is oblique so as to discharge readily and rapidly when it is released and permitted to rotate. When the hopper is empty as shown in Fig. 1 it is held normally erect by the weight 23 which is then below the pivotal connection with the stirrup. The upper portion of the hopper 22 is provided with the extension 24 which meets the roller 25 inthe gate 10 and opens the gate by the upward swing of the hopper 22 after the hopper end of the bar 15 has been elevated. The force exerted by the weight 23 is sufficient to overcome that exerted by the weights operating the gate 10. So long as the hopper is in its elevated position it is held positively erect by means of a latch rod 26- which is pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the stirrup 19 extending forward therefrom, and is provided with a catch 27 against the inner edge of which a stop -28-, on the hopper rests. In this catch is erected a vertical extension, 29 provided with a recess, or notch -129, which is engaged with a detent 30, extended fromthe forward side of the housing 3, and serves to support the forward end of the latch rod. The recess 129 is of such dimensions as to allow of a limited vertical. movement relative to the housing which will'permit the latch rod 26 to swing down such a distance that the stop 24 becomes disconnected from the gate 10, allowing the gate 10 to close, before the stop 28 is disconnected from the catch 27. This permits the use. of the control mechanism about to be described.

The control mechanism is shown in detail in Fig. 9. It consists of a stop 31 controlled by the rod 32. When the stop 31 is in position below the stirrup 19, it positively stops-the downward movement of the hopier by contact of the stirrup with the top of catch 33, after the gate 10 has been allowed to. close but before stop 28 is disengaged from the catch 27. By thus stopping the downward movement of the hopper, the continuous automatic movement of the machine is stopped. When the machine is in operation the rod 32 is rotated, throwing the stop 31, to such position that catch 33 will not touch the bottom of the stirrup 19. Catch 33 passed over the lug of the stirrup 19 controls the upward: movement of the stirrup.

To contain and discharge each weighed portion, the funnel 34 is provided with the adjustable extension 35. The funnel 34 is in fixed connection with the main stand 1.

To prevent splashing of the material at all times, I provide the free swinging gate 36 over the discharge opening of the hopper 22. This opens and closes by gravity.

The operation of the device may now be understood. The feed pipe is connected with a bin containing a commodity to be weighed. The weights on the scale beam are adjusted to indicate the quantity to be weighed at each operation. The slide 2 is then inserted across the feed pipe diverting the flow of commodity through the orifice 4 into the feed mechanism whence it descends into the weighing hopper. As the hopper fills it will descend, at the proper moment, as it approaches equilibrium the stop 24 will escape from the roller 25, allowing the gate to, close, thus stopping the flow. The small amount of commodity which flows after the release of the gate and before the closing thereof will carry the hopper to or past the point of equilibrium, at which point the stop 28 escapes from the catch 27, the latch rod 26 having followed the movement of the hopper to this point. The escape of the stop 28 from the catch 27 permits the hopper to tilt, forward, and discharge its contents into the funnel 34:. As soon as the commodity is discharged the hopper is returned to its elevated position, by the weights on the scale beam and to its erect position by the weight 23. As it approaches its erect position the stop 24: impinges on the roller 25 and opens the gate, and the stop 28 raises the latch rod and engages behind the catch 27, whereby it is retained in the erect position. I The foregoing cycle will be repeated ad Z'ibitum as long as the commodity eontinuesto flow, or it may be interrupted by shifting the stop 31 so that the lower side of the stirrup will contact with the catch 33, just after the gate has beenallowed to close but before the hopper is released. On removing the catch from the path of the stirrup the cycle will be resumed. The apparatus may be secured in its inoperative position by engaging the catch 33 over the lug onthe bottom of the stirrup. When a desired amount of commodity has been weighed, before the supply is exhausted and it is. desired to change to another commodity the flowis cut off from the source of supply and the slide 2 withdrawn, this will permit the portion of commodity remaining in the space 1, above the slide to descend through the space 1 to a container on a level below. 7

It is evident that my device automatically opens the gate controlling the feed supply, automatically holds this gate positively open and the discharge receptacle positively erect, automatically closes the gate as soon as the discharge receptacle has received the assigned weight, automatically discharges the weighed portion immediately after the gate has been closed, and automatically returns to the feeding position in continuous se ries, checked only by the operation of the control mechanism or the exhaust of the supply of material to be fed.

I do not limit myself further than is indicated in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vertical feed pipe having a lateral orifice, feed mechanism attached to said pipe, means for diverting a commodity through said orifice into said feed mechanism comprising a housing, an oblique slideway, an adjustable baiile plate, a second oblique slideway and a curved sweeping plate disposed within the housing, a swinging gate below and closing the outlet from the housing and automatic weighing mechanism attached to said pipe in operative relationship to the feed mechanism.

2. In combination with a vertical feed pipe having a lateral orifice, weighing mechanism attached to said feed pipe comprisins a scale beam, a yoke pivotally suspended from said beam and adapted to move in a vertical plane, a tilting hopper pivoted in said yoke, feed mechanism attached to said pipe having an outlet through which material may be delivered into said hopper, a swinging gate adapted to close said outlet, a projection on said hopper adapted to en gage with said gate to open same, a latch rod pivotally mounted on said yoke and extended forward therefrom, the forward por tion thereof being supported from said feed mechanism and having a slight vertical movement relative thereto, and a second projection on said hopper adapted to be engaged with said latch rod.

8. In an automatic weighing device, a feeding device, a swinging gate therefor, a scale beam, a yoke suspended therefrom, a hopper pivotally mounted in said yoke and adapted to automatically dump after receiving a quantity of material and to automatically right itself when empty, a latch rod pivotally mounted upon said yoke, a detent extended from said feeding device from which the forward end of the latch rod is suspended and relative to which it has a slight vertical movement, an upright on said hopper engaging said latch rod to maintain said hopper upright a definite time after receiving a determined quantity of material.

In an automatic weighing device, a feeding device comprising a swinging gate, a scale beam, a yoke suspended therefrom, an. automatic dumping hopper swung in said yoke, a latch rod pivotally mounted on said yoke and extended forward therefrom, a vertical extension on the forward portion of the latch rod, a projection on the feeding device over which said extension engages, thereby limiting the downward swing of the rod, an upright on said hopper for opening said gate, an additional upright adapted to engage with the latch rod whereby the hopper maintained upright during a definite period following the release of the gate.

5. In a weighing device, a feed pipe, a scale beam pivoted on said feed pipe, a yoke suspended from said beam, a tilting hopper pivoted in said yoke to swing from an upright or receiving position to a dumping position, stops on said hopper, a receptacle mounted on said pipe above said hopper, a gate on the bottom of said receptacle ad pted to be opened by one of said stops, a latch rod connected respectively with the yoke and the receptacle and adapted to be engaged by the other of said stops, the stops being so arranged that the first mentioned stop is disengaged from the gate upon the initial tilting of the scale beam, and the second mentioned stop is disengaged after the gate is closed.

6. In a weighing device, a scale beam, a yoke suspended therefrom and adapted to move in a vertical plane, a hopper pivotally mounted in said yoke and adapted to dump after receiving a predetermined amount of material and to right itself when empty, a feeding device comprising a swinging gate, means for retaining said hopper in an upright position until a predetermined quantity of material has been received in said hopper, said means comprising an upright mounted on said hopper and a vertically movable detent connected respectively with said yoke and with the feeding device.

7. In a weighing device, a feed pipe, a scale beam pivoted on said pipe, a yoke suspended from said beam and adapted to move in a vertical plane, a hopper arranged to swing in said yoke so that when empty it is in an upright position, a receptacle mounted on said feed pipe above said hopper, a swinging gate below said receptacle, means on the hopper for opening the gate, latching means connected respectively with said yoke and receptacle for holding the hopper in an upright position, after a predetermined weight of material has been received in the hopper, until said gate is closed.

8, In a weighing device, a feed pipe, a scale beam pivoted on said pipe, a yoke sus pended from said beam and adapted to move in a vertical plane, a hopper arranged to swing in said yoke so that when empty it is in upright position, a receptacle mounted on said feed pipe, above said hopper, a swinging gate below said receptacle, a swinging fellow member pivoted on the side of the rece tacle and rsearing on the rear edge of said gate, means on the hopper for opening said gate, latching means connected respectively with said yoke and receptacle for holding the hopper in an upright position after a predetermined weight of material has been received in the hopper, and until said gate is closed.

9. A feed pipe, automatic Weighing mechanism attached thereto, having feed mechanism comprising a housing attached to said pipe in operative relationship to the weighing mechanism, an oblique slideWay, an adjustable ballie plate and a second oblique slideway disposed within said housing and a swinging gate below said housing closing the outlet therefrom.

10. A feed pipe, automatic Weighing mechanism attached thereto, feed mechanism comprising a housing attached to said pipe, an oblique slideway, a curved baffle plate and a second oblique slideway disposed within said housing, a swinging gate below Copies of this patent may be obtained for RICHARD J. ZANONE. Witnesses HARRY W. DAVIS, A. L. \VICKLIFFE.

flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. 

